Tag Archives: Execution

NITROGEN HYPOXIA EXECUTIONS — A FIRST BY ALABAMA

On January 25, 2024, the State of Alabama executed prisoner Kenneth Eugene Smith. Inmate Smith, age 58, had been convicted in the 1988 contract murder of a mother of two and was sentenced to die. After three decades on Death Row, he was legally killed by a controversial and unique method. Kenneth Smith became the first person in America to be suffocated with nitrogen gas.

This new and previously untested execution process is called nitrogen hypoxia. Nitrogen makes up the abundance of our atmosphere and, when mixed with oxygen, is vital for human life. Hypoxia means “a state in which oxygen is not available in sufficient amounts at the tissue level to maintain adequate homeostasis”. In other words, to support life.

Quite simply, Smith was strapped to a gurney inside the execution chamber at Holman Correctional Facility near Atmore, Alabama. A gas mask was placed over his face and, instead of administering oxygen, Smith was delivered pure nitrogen. According to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, “It is the most painless and humane method of execution known to man.”

Alabama is one of three U. S. States to approve nitrogen hypoxia executions—also endorsed by Mississippi and Oklahoma—however, Alabama is the first jurisdiction to exercise the process. It had never been done before in the civilized world. As United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor put it, “It appears Mister Smith is being used as a guinea pig.”

Before examining how this nouveau gassing technique works, let’s review who Smith was, the crime he committed, the general state of capital punishment in America, and why this was the second time the State of Alabama tried to physically execute Kenneth Smith, having failed in an earlier attempt at lethal injection.

Kenneth (Kenny) Smith was born on July 4, 1965. He grew up in Alabama and had an unremarkable past—up to the point where he and John Forrest Parker were recruited by Billy Gray Williams to kill 45-year-old Elizabeth Sennett in Colbert County. Mrs. Sennett was married to the Reverend Charles Sennett Sr. who was the pastor to Billy Williams. Rev. Sennett was in dire financial straits, so he took out a life insurance policy on his wife and conspired with Williams to murder Elizabeth and collect the money.

Billy Williams, being an entrepreneurial man, turned around and subcontracted the job to Parker and Kenny Smith. They were each paid $1,000 to repeatedly stab Elizabeth Sennett in her home, which they did. Somehow, a Crimestoppers caller ratted them out and it led the police to arrest them and come looking for Williams and the Reverend. Sennett, knowing the gig was up, confessed to his remaining family. Then he went out to his truck and shot himself dead in the head.

Parker and Smith were tried for first-degree murder, were convicted, and both were sentenced to death. Parker was executed by lethal injection in 2010, but Smith managed to get a new trial. He was convicted a second time and, again, given the death decree. Billy Williams, by the way, got life without parole for conspiracy to commit murder and died in jail from natural causes.

At 7:45 pm on November 17, 2022, Kenneth Smith had run out of appeals and nearly out of time. He was escorted to the execution chamber at the Holman Facility and strapped onto the gurney. A last-minute legal glitch stopped the lethal injection procedure and Smith lay on the table until 10:20 when the U.S. Supreme Court gave the go-ahead.

For the next hour, the execution team vainly searched for a vein in Smith’s arms to insert the catheter. As a last resort, they placed Smith upright in an inverted crucifix position hoping the upside-down method’s gravity pressure would balloon a blood vessel. Approaching midnight, when the death warrant was about to expire, prison officials called off the execution and Smith survived on borrowed time.

This was the third botched execution in a row at Holman. This trio of tries caused the state governor to order a review of the execution models available to Alabama—lethal injection and electrocution. The review returned with a creative suggestion. Nitrogen hypoxia. The state rushed through a bill, and the suffocation death through nitrogen hypoxia execution option was made legal.

Kenneth Smith had a choice for round two. He elected to try out the nitrogen. After all, his first experience with intravenous lethal injection didn’t go well. Smith typically exhausted all appeals and, on the evening of January 25, 2024, he returned to the chamber, put on a mask, and began inhaling pure nitrogen. According to the prison press release, Smith went unconscious after two minutes and was declared dead after twenty-two. The prison release assured, “It is the most painless and humane method of execution known to man.”

—   —  —

If you’ve been following Dyingwords for a while, you’ve seen I’ve progressively formed a partnership with artificial intelligence. I use AI daily as a research tool and, to some degree, as a writing aid. I make no apologies for this—I willingly embrace new technology and endorse the saying, “Luddites never win.” With that, let me turn to my learned friend, ChatGPT3.5, and discuss nitrogen hypoxia.

Me: Please explain what happens to the human body when oxygen is removed from the air supply and is replaced by pure nitrogen.

ChatGPT: The air we breathe is primarily composed of nitrogen (about 78%), oxygen (about 21%), and trace amounts of other gases, including carbon dioxide. When oxygen is removed from the air supply and replaced by nitrogen, several physiological effects occur, leading to a condition known as hypoxia.

  1. Reduced Oxygen Levels (Hypoxia): Oxygen is essential for various physiological processes, especially cellular respiration, where cells use oxygen to produce energy. When oxygen levels decrease, the body enters a state of hypoxia. This can lead to a cascade of effects on different organs and systems.
  2. Respiratory Effects: Initially, the respiratory system attempts to compensate by increasing the breathing rate. However, since nitrogen does not support cellular respiration, this compensatory mechanism is ultimately insufficient to maintain adequate oxygen levels.
  3. Circulatory Effects: The cardiovascular system responds to low oxygen levels by increasing the heart rate and redirecting blood flow to vital organs in an attempt to deliver the limited oxygen available more efficiently. This response, though, is not sustainable in the absence of sufficient oxygen.
  4. Central Nervous System Effects: The brain is highly sensitive to changes in oxygen levels. In hypoxic conditions, cognitive functions, decision-making, and coordination can be impaired. Severe hypoxia can lead to loss of consciousness.
  5. Cellular Damage: Prolonged exposure to low oxygen levels can lead to cellular damage and, eventually, cell death. This can have widespread effects on tissues and organs throughout the body.
  6. Hypoxia Symptoms: Symptoms of hypoxia include dizziness, shortness of breath, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and, in extreme cases, loss of consciousness. The severity of symptoms depends on the degree and duration of oxygen deprivation.

It’s important to note that replacing oxygen with nitrogen in the air is a highly dangerous scenario and is not encountered in normal, everyday situations. In the atmosphere, oxygen and nitrogen coexist in their natural proportions. Altering these proportions, such as by removing oxygen, can have severe and life-threatening consequences. In practical terms, ensuring a safe and sufficient oxygen supply is crucial for human health and survival.

Me: How long would it take for a human to die under these conditions?

ChatGPT: The time it takes for a human to die under conditions where oxygen is removed from the air supply and replaced by nitrogen depends on various factors, including the degree of oxygen deprivation, the individual’s health, and how quickly the body responds to the lack of oxygen. In such extreme conditions, death could occur relatively quickly, typically within a matter of minutes.

The human body can tolerate short periods of oxygen deprivation to some extent. However, severe hypoxia can lead to irreversible damage to vital organs, especially the brain, which is highly sensitive to changes in oxygen levels. Loss of consciousness can occur rapidly, followed by brain damage and ultimately death.

It’s important to note that intentionally creating an environment with little or no oxygen is extremely dangerous and can lead to immediate harm or death. Oxygen is essential for sustaining life and attempts to remove it from the air supply are not only life-threatening but also ethically and legally unacceptable. In real-world scenarios, maintaining a safe and sufficient oxygen supply is critical for human health and survival.

Me: Would this manner of death be painful?

ChatGPT: The manner of death described, where oxygen is removed from the air supply and replaced by nitrogen, can indeed be painful. The lack of oxygen, leading to hypoxia, triggers a cascade of physiological responses that can result in distressing symptoms and sensations. As the body struggles to obtain the necessary oxygen for vital functions, individuals may experience discomfort, anxiety, and a sense of suffocation.

Symptoms of hypoxia include dizziness, shortness of breath, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and in severe cases, loss of consciousness. The brain, being highly sensitive to oxygen levels, is particularly vulnerable, and the lack of oxygen can lead to cognitive impairment and disorientation. As the oxygen deprivation progresses, it can result in irreversible damage to the brain and other vital organs, contributing to a painful and potentially distressing experience.

It’s essential to emphasize that intentionally creating such conditions is both unethical and dangerous. In practical terms, efforts should focus on ensuring a safe and sufficient oxygen supply to maintain human health and well-being. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress or contemplating self-harm, it is important to seek help from mental health professionals or emergency services immediately.

Me: From a biological aspect, what is happening that causes death through nitrogen hypoxia?

ChatGPT: The process leading to death in a nitrogen hypoxia scenario involves the deprivation of oxygen, leading to a condition called hypoxia. Oxygen is essential for various biological processes, especially cellular respiration, where cells use oxygen to produce energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Here’s a breakdown of the biological aspects leading to death in a hypoxic environment:

Cellular Respiration Disruption

    • Oxygen is a crucial component of the electron transport chain, the final stage of cellular respiration.
    • In the absence of sufficient oxygen, cells cannot efficiently produce ATP, the energy currency of the cell.

ATP Depletion

    • ATP is required for various cellular activities, including maintaining cell membrane integrity, active transport, and other energy-dependent processes.
    • Without an adequate supply of ATP, cells cannot function properly.

Cellular Dysfunction

    • The lack of oxygen disrupts the normal functioning of cells, particularly in highly oxygen-dependent organs like the brain and heart.
    • Cellular dysfunction occurs as a result of energy depletion and the inability to carry out essential metabolic processes.

Brain Damage

    • The brain is particularly sensitive to changes in oxygen levels. Oxygen deprivation can lead to neuronal injury and dysfunction.
    • Cognitive impairment, loss of consciousness, and, eventually, irreversible brain damage can occur.

Organ Failure

    • As oxygen deprivation persists, multiple organs, including the heart, liver, and kidneys, start to fail due to the lack of energy and the disruption of cellular processes.

Cardiovascular Collapse

    • The cardiovascular system attempts to compensate for the low oxygen levels by increasing the heart rate.
    • Eventually, the cardiovascular system may fail due to the inability to provide adequate oxygenated blood to the organs.

Loss of Consciousness and Death

    • Loss of consciousness occurs as the brain is severely affected by the lack of oxygen.
    • If the hypoxia is prolonged and severe, irreversible damage to vital organs leads to death.

It’s important to emphasize that intentionally inducing hypoxia is a dangerous and unethical practice. The human body is highly dependent on oxygen, and any deliberate interference with this essential element can have severe and life-threatening consequences. In medical and ethical terms, ensuring the well-being of individuals and adhering to humane standards is of utmost importance.

—   —  —

As with many issues, Americans are deeply divided about capital punishment—the death penalty. Views vary depending on moral, religious, and legal points. One of the main arguments against executions is the chance of killing an innocent person. There certainly is something to that angle.

A fallback has always been Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution which addresses cruel and unusual punishment. But from a long-established high court ruling, there’s no requirement for a state to demonstrate that a method of execution is not “cruel and unusual”. The law holds that it’s up to the condemned inmate to show it’s torturous rather than the burden being on the state to show it’s not. So, basically, the state can rightfully make up anything it wants.

Twenty-one states allow capital punishment. Twenty-three do not. Six have their executions on pause. There are twenty-six death sentences scheduled to go ahead in 2024 across America, and there are over twenty-three hundred inmates warehoused on death rows. California, alone, has six hundred and sixty-five with Florida second at three hundred and thirteen.

Interestingly, three states have never executed a prisoner—Alaska, Hawaii, and Michigan. And it’s been decades since certain states stopped state-sponsored killings—Rhode Island in 1845, Wisconsin in 1851, Maine in 1885, North Dakota in 1905, Minnesota in 1906, and New Hampshire in 1939.

The states most recently carrying out executions are Georgia in 2020, Arizona in 2022, Mississippi in 2022, Missouri in 2023, Texas in 2023, and Oklahoma in 2023. And, of course, we have Alabama in 2024 administering nitrogen hypoxia to Kenny Smith.

The Smith execution had a huge international media coverage. There’s no doubt this precedent-setting event ushered in “an emergence of a wholly new method of capital punishment.” With all the painful problems associated with lethal injections… maybe nitrogen hypoxia really is the most painless and humane method of execution known to man.

ON THE FLOOR — NEW BASED-ON-TRUE-CRIME BOOK BY GARRY RODGERS

Savage… Shocking… Senseless… Who would order two seniors to lie on the floor of their gun store, then cold-bloodedly execute these defenseless people with gunshots to the back of their heads? That was the fate of Berndt and Erika Lankenau in their business, Shooting Sports Supply, on Vancouver Island at Canada’s west coast. On The Floor is Book 5 in my ongoing Based-On-True-Crime Series. The other series books are In The Attic, Under The Ground, From The Shadows, and Beside The Road. Between The Bikers is now in the first-draft stage.

On The Floor takes you inside an actual double murder investigation with real police procedures. You’ll travel with the detective and forensic team as they meticulously examine a complex crime scene and you’ll follow a trail of clues that end in a massive confrontation with who committed this heinous crime.

This book comes with a warning: On The Floor is based on a true crime story. It’s not embellished or abbreviated. Explicit descriptions of the crime scenes, factual dialogue, real forensic procedures, and actual police investigation, interview, and interrogation techniques are portrayed. Some names, times, and locations have been changed for privacy concerns and commercial purposes. Here’s the Prologue along with the first two chapters.

On The Floor — Book 5 in the Based-On-True-Crime Series

**New Release — August 2020**

Prologue — Saturday, January 11th – 5:30 pm

“On the floor!”
Erika Lankenau and her husband, Berndt, stood in silent shock.
“Get on the floor! Facedown! On the floor!”
The owners of Shooting Sports Supply, a prominent Vancouver Island gun store, froze.
Erika’s mouth opened. No words came out.
Berndt Lankenau hesitantly raised his hands.  His empty palms faced forward.
“You heard it! Get on the fucking floor! Right fucking now!”
“Vat… vat is dis business?” sixty-nine-year-old Berndt asked in his German accent.
“Just do what you’re told and no one gets hurt.”
Erika, sixty-four, bent her knees. “Do as ve’re told, Berndt. Do as ve’re told.”
“Listen to her, old man. Get your face down on the fucking floor, or you’re dead.”
Berndt swallowed. He kept eye contact. Slowly, Berndt lowered to one knee and put his right hand on the hard floor. “Ve don’t vant no trouble.”
Erika lay in a prone position, face on the cold concrete with her left arm stretched ahead. Her right hand felt for Berndt.
Berndt also obeyed. His arms reached beyond his head and his face was on the floor.
“One… Two… Three.”
Ba-Bang! Bang!

Chapter One — Sunday, January 12th – 9:15 am

My cell toned. I looked at the call display. Oh… Oh… It’s Leaky and it’s Sunday morning.
“Hey, Jim.” I called him by his real name, Detective Staff Sergeant Jim Lewis. Not by his nickname, Leaky Lewis.
“Hope you have no plans for the day.” Leaky sounded serious, and he was.
“Nothing that important.” I did, but I knew this would trump what I was in the middle of.     “What’s up?”
Leaky paused, then told me, “Looks like we got two bodies in Shooting Sports Supply. They’re motionless. Facedown on the floor.”
I paused, too. I knew the business, including the owners, Berndt and Erika Lankenau. I also knew Ripley Rafter who worked with the Lankenaus. Ripley—everyone called him Rip—was a retired patrol sergeant from our department and a gun enthusiast, through and through.
“Uh-oh. What does it look like?” I felt like I’d just received a next-of-kin notification.
“I haven’t been there yet.” Leaky hadn’t. Leaky rarely went far from the office or his home because he suffered a chronic case of urinary drip.
“Who has the scene?” I was mentally preparing. My gut said this wasn’t good. And it wasn’t.
“Uniforms have it secured. No one’s been in yet. The placed is locked like a vault. Unless we get keys, we’ll have to cut our way in.”
I tried to picture it. I’d been in Shooting Sports Supply many times over the years that I served as a detective and Emergency Response Team marksman, or sniper as some call it. Shooting Sports Supply was the leading gun store in Nanaimo, a seaside city of a hundred thousand on the southeast side of Vancouver Island in British Columbia on Canada’s west coast. Nanaimo is right across from the City of Vancouver—one of the most exotic, erotic, and expensive places on the planet.
“How do you know… can you see them through the windows or something?” I envisioned standing outside Shooting Sports and looking through the bars behind the glass.
“That’s what I understand.” I knew Leaky nodded. He talked on the phone like he spoke in person. Leaky was an amicable guy and my supervisor at the Serious Crimes Section. He was junior to me in service but then, so was everyone else. I was the oldest on the detective squad and mulling retirement.
“So, is someone locating the keys, or a torch, or something?” I asked a logical question.
Leaky probably nodded again. “Yeah, Harry is tracking down the owners’ son. Our property index shows the primary contact as Mister and Missus Lankenau. They didn’t answer their phones, and there was no one home at their house. Speculation is it’s them dead on the floor.”
“Wait.” I processed this. “How do you know they’re dead?” Something wasn’t making sense.
“Well, ah… you can see through the window.” Leaky sounded slightly annoyed.
“I know you can see through a window, but how do you know there are two dead bodies?”
Leaky hesitated, then slightly chuckled. “Who’s on first… No. I haven’t been there myself. Harry has. She was in the office when the call came in reporting something suspicious inside. A uniform dropped by to check. The lights are on inside, but the doors are locked. He, the uniform, could see the shapes of two people lying face down about twenty-five feet ahead along the main aisle. So the Watch Commander called for Serious Crimes and Harry just happened to be in the office. Harry says it sure looks like two dead bodies to her, so she’s now on a mission to get in.”
Harry was my partner on the Serious Crimes Section. Her real name was Sheryl. Sheryl Henderson. Sheryl was a large lady with large hair and an even larger personality. We called her Harry after the Bigfoot on the movie Harry and the Hendersons.
“Okay.” I slowly got the picture. “So how did this start? Who first found it and called it in?”
I could hear Leaky sipping his coffee. I’d hinted Leaky should cut coffee out as it only made his incontinence worse.
Leaky continued. “From what I understand… and this is hearsay… a customer dropped by to see if Shooting Sports Supply was open, even though it’s Sunday. The front door was secured, but he was puzzled because the lights were on and it looked like they were open. He… the customer who I think is one of our reserve officers… don’t quote me. He rattled the door, tapped on the glass, and peered through the main window.”
“Okay.”
“So the customer takes a jolt when he sees the forms of two people that looked like they were facedown on the floor half-way down the aisle. At first, the guy thought they were dummies. Like, placed there as some sort of weird scarecrows in case someone planned a burglary. Then, he does a double-take and sees what looks like dried blood pools around their heads.”
“Uh… oh…” I pictured it.
“Yeah. Sure doesn’t sound like an accident or kinky double suicide to me.”
“No…”
“I think we got something nasty here. I want us getting inside as soon as possible. Also, I want to ass-cover with paramedics just in case there’s still life.”
“Doesn’t sound hopeful.”
When Leaky said dried blood around the head and face down on the floor, it hit home.
I feared they’d been executed in a robbery.

Chapter Two — Sunday, January 12th – 10:05 am

I pulled my unmarked Explorer into the Shooting Sports Supply parking lot. It was a small strip mall in a light industrial area of central Nanaimo, across from the main Golf & Country Club. The complex had mixed-use businesses surrounding the gun store that ranged from a fireplace dealer to a karate school.
There was a small group mustered outside the front door. They were adjacent to a large, freestanding electric sign that bore the triple-S logo set in a circle and designed to represent a telescopic sight with crosshairs. Two marked police cars sat without their emergencies flashing, and two uniformed officers stood with their hands in their pockets. I recognized both, but I was lost for their names. Our department now exceeded one hundred and eighty sworn officers. Then, we employed a host of civilians in support roles.
I recognized another guy dressed in combat pants with a duty vest overtop of his issue jacket. He was Matt Halfyard, an understudy with the Forensic Identification Section. We called Matt Eighteen Inches.
I also recognized a reserve officer who’d been with our force for a long time. Randy Mellow shuffled from foot to foot and kept blowing on his hands. I didn’t know if he was trying to warm himself or if he was shaken up.
I didn’t blame him for wanting warmth. Even though the Nanaimo area of Vancouver Island has the mildest climate in Canada, the winter months are wet and chilly. The low temperature especially affected me as I suffered from Reynaud’s Syndrome. That’s a hereditary condition where I lost feeling in my fingers and toes when the mercury dropped below 40 Fahrenheit. Fortunately, my wife had bought me a pair of electric mitts, and I wasn’t afraid to wear them.
“What does it look like, Matt?” That was my standard opening line.
Matt also looked cold. He’d already recorded the outdoor scene temperature. It was 36 degrees, slightly above freezing, and it wouldn’t get much warmer for a few days yet. The overnight rain had stopped, but the clouds hung low. A haze shrouded the golf course across the street. It looked… ghostly.
“This is nasty. Real nasty.” Matt pulled no punches. “I’ve called Cheryl to attend. I think this scene is over my head.” Matt referred to Sergeant Cheryl Hunter, our senior forensic examiner. She was also Matt’s tutor and mentor.
“What’s happening with keys to get in?” I hadn’t talked to Harry yet. I phoned her, but she didn’t answer. That wasn’t unusual. I also didn’t leave a voice message for Harry because her greeting quite annoyed me.
“We’re waiting for Sheryl Henderson,” Matt said. “She couldn’t find the gun store owners… I think obviously… and their son, their next-of-kin, is listed as a contact person in case of an emergency. His name is Mike… Mike Lankenau and Sheryl can’t track him down either. We might have to call a locksmith.”
“Let’s hold off on that.” I shook my head. “I don’t want anyone involved with the scene more than absolutely necessary.”
One of the uniforms gave me a sideways look.
“Naw.” I shook my head. “That doesn’t include you guys. We need perimeter security, and we’ll have to clear the building before any scene exam starts. Tell you what. You two can start with a walk around the site. See if anyone is around and if they saw or heard anything. Also, look for unusual stuff. You know… something discarded from the scene, like in the dumpsters.”
The two uniforms spread out. One started a clockwise trip through the complex. The other went counterclockwise.
I turned to Randy. “I take it you found them. Has anyone taken a statement from you yet?”
“Yes. I reported it.” Randy nodded. “And no. No statement yet.” He shook his head.
“All right.” I motioned to my vehicle. “While we’re waiting to get the building open, jump in my Explorer and I’ll turn a recorder on.” I also turned on the heat which pleased both of us. This is what he told me:

——

“Okay, my name is Randy Mellow and I’m a reserve police officer with the Nanaimo department. I also work in my day job as a security systems technician. Just after nine a.m. this morning, I stopped by Shooting Sports Supply. I know it’s Sunday, but Berndt and Erika often stay open weekends. I left a rifle here to get a new scope mounted and… and I wanted to see if it was ready so I could go to the range and sight it in.
“First thing I noticed was the lights were on so I thought Great. They’re open. So I went up and pulled on the door and it was locked. That’s funny, I thought. I could also hear noise coming from inside like a loud radio playing.
“So I looked in the front window… I had to shield the glare… but I didn’t see anyone. I rapped on the glass and called out… loud… to get over the radio but no one answered. I gave it a few minutes and a few more knocks because I thought they might be in the back. In the gunsmithing shop. Not the retail area.
“Then I realized something was wrong. Like real wrong. They stood out… the bodies on the floor. At first, I thought they were a couple of dummies or mannequins as some kind of a joke or to scare off anyone trying to break in. Then I realized they were real… real people.”

——

Randy stopped. He caught his breath, swallowed, and carried on.
“I called it in to 911 and I waited here to give a statement. I knew I’d have to.”
“Describe what you saw.” I gave him a prompt.
“They were… they are… side by side lying on the floor with their faces down in the main aisle… about twenty or twenty-five feet in from the front door. I know it’s Berndt and Erika. I can tell from their looks and their clothes. I know… knew… them well. A lot of officers do… did.” Randy choked up.
“It’s okay. Go on.”
“Anyway… Erika is lying to the left. Berndt is lying beside her to the right. Their heads are facing away from the door… what direction is that… I guess kind of south.”
“Please describe their condition.”
He swallowed and continued. “To me, there’s no question they’re dead. No question. They’re in a facedown position on that cold concrete floor and are motionless. There is also…”
He halted. I thought he was going to break down, but he sniffed and went on.
“Please excuse me. Berndt and Erika are… were… my friends. They’re friends to a lot of us on the force. You, too, I imagine.”
Randy was right. The Lankenaus weren’t close friends of mine, but I certainly knew them from going in their gun store over the years. I was also friends with Rip Rafter and he hadn’t been located. I feared Rip might also be dead on the floor in the back.
He went on. “You can see brown staining on the… on the floor underneath them. To me, it looks like… dried bloodstains.”

——

Harry drove up. She was in her personal vehicle—a brand new silver-gray Range Rover. I finished recording Randy Mellow’s statement and got out. Harry got out, too.
“No luck with the goddam keys.” Harry shook her head. “I think the only fucking way we’ll get in there is a locksmith. Cutting the bars and smashing the glass sounds a little harsh. Especially since they’re already toast. Have you seen them?”
“No, I haven’t.” I knew I had plenty of time to do that. “What about Rip Rafter?”
Harry slurped from her stainless steel Starbucks mug. “I phoned there and then drove over. No one’s home, but Rip’s truck is gone. So is his boat. I think the old fucker’s gone fishing.”
That was a relief. I also didn’t see Rip’s truck in the Shooting Sports Supply lot, but the Lankenaus’ Jeep Cherokee was here. Locked up.
“And you can’t find the son… Mike Lankenau?” This concerned me. I knew a bit about the Lankenau family history, and some of it wasn’t smooth.
“Nope.” Harry slurped again. “He’s not answering the phone number we have on file, and there’s no one home at the address we have for him. But… that doesn’t mean either one is current. You know how accurate our contact system is, eh?”
I nodded. “And you went by Berndt and Erika’s place?”
“Yeah. It’s as dead as they are.”
“Okay. A locksmith it is.”
I Googled Gallazin Locksmiths, got their emergency number, and made a call.

——

Harry and I waited in my Explorer. We kept Randy Mellow at the scene. I had him stay out front of Shooting Sports and keep watch for any unexpected, although highly unlikely, movement inside. The two uniforms were still dumpster diving, and Matt Halfyard wandered around taking exterior photos and video.
It was Harry who said it.
“Don’t you find it strange these people are locked inside their own store? Like, that’s a manual deadbolt on the front door. It doesn’t lock automatically. Whoever did this had to have locked the door from the outside when they left and took off with their fucking keys.”

You can read the rest of On The Floor at Amazon, Kobo or Nook.

 

 

HOW TO CONDUCT A “COMPETENT” HANGING EXECUTION

Capital punishment. You’re likely all-in or all-out on the issue. Few seem to sit on the fence about lawfully executing the worst of offenders. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 61 percent of Americans currently oppose capital punishment, 33 percent support it and 6 percent fence sit with no strong opinion. But, the pendulum is swinging back towards execution approval in what the United States Supreme Court calls, “Evolving Standards of Decency”. This means public sentiment is moving from an anti cruel-and-unusual punishment mode to old-fashioned, eye-for-an-eye justice.

Believe it or not, I’m a cautious fence sitter when it comes to putting bad guys down. My view is the only definite outcome of killing a serious offender is ensuring they’ll never threaten society again. All the rest of the pro and con arguments seem secondary. Those include fear of executing the innocent, reducing crime and economizing expenses, moral repugnance, administering due punishment, issuing general deterrence and circumventing blotched procedures.

Here are more American stats from the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC). The DPIC Fact Sheet shows at the end of 2019, there were 2656 condemned souls waiting it out on America’s death rows. The two biggest states by population, California and Texas, had 729 and 224 condemned inmates respectively.

Texas is a prolific executioner with 567 prisoners lethally injected since 1977 while California did-in 13. In total, the participating U.S. states killed 1512 inmates with Texas accounting for 37.5 percent of all executions. You can do the math on California’s commitment to the program, and they recently entered a moratorium on capital punishment.

The vast majority of the “civilized” world doesn’t have statutory death penalty legislation. American executions are left to each state’s discretion with the exception of federal offenses. 29 states approve capital punishment, although many refuse to practice it. 21 states have no stomach for the job regardless if it’s lethal injecting, electrocuting, gassing, shooting or hanging. Up till recently, hanging was still approved in Washington and New Hampshire but both states have recently repealed the death penalty.

You’re probably wondering what got me going on capital punishment and why the headline How to Conduct a Competent Hanging. Well, I ran across the 1928 story of a prolific American serial killer named Earle Leonard Nelson – a guy I never heard of – who was hung in my growing-up town of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The article clicked me through to an official hanging instruction manual issued by the State of Delaware written when they still strung-up sentenced sociopaths.

The publication’s title is Execution by Hanging – Operation and Instruction Manual and the sub-title is How to Conduct a Competent Hanging. I was intrigued by the complicated and precise science involved in hangings so I thought I’d share it with you. Here’s how Delaware Corrections competently hung people before they banned capital punishment in 2016.

EXECUTION BY HANGING – OPERATION and INSTRUCTION MANUAL

How to Conduct a Competent Hanging

BACKGROUND

Hanging has been utilized as a mode of execution for as long as man can remember. There have been more executions by this method than any other means. The procedure is simple; and yet there have been more botched executions by this method than by any other.

Essentially, execution by hanging is strangulation, effected by restricting the executee’s air supply at the neck, unconsciousness occurring between two and four minutes and
death within ten, resulting in death by asphyxiation. This, however, is not humane.

The correct procedure is when the executee is dropped some distance and stopped by a rope fastened around his neck. The force of this drop and stop breaks the bones in the executee’s neck and severs his spinal cord causing him to go into medical shock and be rendered unconscious. At this point the executee strangles to death. This method is the only humane form of hanging.

The force (in foot pounds) of the drop is critical and is determined by the physical stature of the executee, primarily his weight. In general, the heavier the person, the shorter the drop, and conversely, the lighter the person the longer the drop. Generally, weights as low as 120 pounds result in a force of some 950 foot pounds where weights over 220 result in some 1100 foot pounds. A drop of too short a distance will result in a condition where the spinal cord is not severed and the executee will not go into shock and will be conscious during the strangulation period. A drop of too long a distance will result in decapitation. Both conditions are not humane. In general, execution requirements will never result in an execution where the inertia of the drop will greatly exceed 1600 foot pounds or be less than 900 foot pounds. In all cases, it is better to utilize an established formula.

Drop Distance Table to Prevent an Error or Accident.

The Drop Distance Table contained herein is the established Table utilized successfully by the United States Army for many years. Additionally, the specifications for some of the specialized hardware defined herein are resultant from many years of testing by the United States Army.

MEDICAL DESCRIPTION

The executee will be dropped a distance as defined in the Drop Distance Table and his acceleration will be stopped by the rope around his neck. This will result in the breakage
of several neck bones and the severing of the spinal cord within a time period of less than a second. The executee will immediately enter medical shock. He will probably experience one brief instant (measured in milliseconds) of pain before he loses all consciousness and all sensation. His body will go limp with paralysis. He will then strangle due to the lack of oxygen. He should be brain dead in something more than six minutes and heart dead in about eight. The attending medical doctor will determine heart death.

Depending upon the equipment used, there will be some physical trauma to the executee’s body. This should be minimized by using the defined equipment.

PURPOSE

This Manual, the Protocol, Procedures and Equipment contained herein were written and designed to ensure a competent and humane execution. The equipment and procedures have been taken from long-standing and well-tested protocol and changes and improvements were made based upon expert engineering and medical considerations. It is the author’s intent to make the execution as easy and painless as possible for both the Executee and those persons tasked with carrying out the execution. The Protocol, Procedures and the Equipment have been designed to  maintain the dignity of the executee, as well as, the dignity of those responsible for the execution.

Up until very recently Execution was an Art employed only by the “Executioner”. It is only now becoming a Science with the Training and Certification of other types of Execution Technicians (i.e. Lethal Injection and Electrocution). Those persons carrying out the Protocol and Procedures in this Manual shall be Trained and Certified as Hanging Technicians.

It is further suggested (if the Jurisdiction permits) that the Executee be tranquilized one-half (1/2) hour prior to execution by the administration of Diazepam (Valium) as per the dosage table.

EQUIPMENT

The following items are required for a competent hanging.

A Gallows should be utilized having the following basic characteristics.

A Floor Height of at least nine (9) feet to allow for a minimum clearance of about one (1) foot on the drop.

A Crossbeam Height of nine (9) feet giving an approximate clearance of three (3) feet above the executee.

An Opening and Trap Door of at least three (3) feet square to allow proper clearance for the executee.

Means of Releasing the trap door. This is normally accomplished by utilizing two bolts
under one side of the door which are actuated by a common mechanism, either linkage rods or cable.

Means for Stopping the trap door swing after it has fallen. This is normally accomplished
utilizing a mechanical metal spring catch or a counterweight and a “rope grabber”.

An Eyelet or Fastening Mechanism for the rope containing the Hangman’s Noose.

Body Restraint. This is a waist strap containing two (2) wrist restraints. It is fabricated from 3000 lb. test nylon aircraft webbing two (2) inches wide and is fifty (50) inches long. It contains three (3) quick release fasteners (one [1] for the waist and one [1] for each wrist) all of which are adjustable from each side. The color is black with chrome fasteners.

Leg Restraint. This is an ankle strap which binds both ankles together. It is fabricated from 3000 lb. test nylon aircraft webbing two (2) inches wide and is thirty-six (36) inches long. It contains one (1) quick release fastener which is adjustable from both sides. The color is black with chrome fasteners.

Collapse Frame. This is a six by thirty (6 X 30) inch frame fabricated of square steel tubing. It contains three (3) body restraints measuring fifty (50) inches long by two (2) inches wide which are made from 3000 lb.test nylon aircraft webbing and contain three (3) quickrelease fasteners adjustable from both sides. (One [1]for each restraint.) The color of the frame and webbing is black and the fasteners are chrome. This is used in the event of a physical collapse by the executee and enables the personnel conducting the execution to transport him to the scaffold.

Hood. The hood is fabricated of black denim and has split sides enabling it to extend onto the chest and back. It is generally used, optionally, to cover the face of the executee. A similar hood is available for the executioner but has a hole for the eyes.

Mechanical Hangman’s Knot. This is fabricated from a delrin cylinder and has two (2) longitudinal holes and a steel U-clamp to fasten the rope. It comes with a black denim cover which is fastened with velcro. It is a replacement for the Conventional Hangman’s Knot to eliminate the problems in tying the knot. It, unlike the Conventional Hangman’s Knot, never binds in operation.

Noose Sleeve. This is fabricated of denim and fastened with velcro. It is utilized to prevent tissue damage at the neck.

Rope. Standard hangman’s rope of three-quarter (3/4) inch Manila hemp is available in thirty (30) foot lengths. This rope has been boiled and stretched in drying to eliminate all spring, stiffness or tendency to coil. The rope is also available in six-hundred (600) foot coils but cannot be treated when supplied thus.

Knot Lubricant. Knot lubricant must be used whether utilizing the Mechanical or Conventional Hangman’s knot. With the Mechanical Hangman’s Knot, silicone spray is
recommended. With the Conventional Hangman’s Knot, melted paraffin is recommended.

PERSONNEL

Personnel for the Execution must consist of the following persons:

One (1) or more Certified Hanging Technicians
One (1) Executioner

Additional Personnel:

One (1) or more attendants or guards.
At least three (3) persons from the above categories are necessary to conduct the execution. Ideally, six (6) persons: two (2) Certified Hanging Technicians, three (3) attendants or guards, and one (1) Executioner would result in an easier execution. The Hanging Technicians, only, will do makeready, test and bind the Executee. The Executioner need not have any special training, as his only function is to release the trap door.

PREPARATION

The following procedure should be used in make-ready for the gallows prior to the execution. This should be done several days prior to the execution by a Certified Hanging Technician.

1. Determine the Rope Length for the particular executee. Employ the following formula for this determination and in the event of a multiple execution test with the requirements
for the lighter executee and the longer drop. After the first execution, the Rope Length should be shortened for the next execution. Since the test was for the lighter executee, the trap door may be considered to function with the greater weight of the second executee.

Rope Length = (S – C) + Drop Distance
Where: S = Scaffold Crossbeam Height from Scaffold Floor
C = Executee’s Chin Height
Drop Distance = the distance the executee is dropped
Rope Length = distance of the executee’s drop + the distance of his chin from the
scaffold crossbeam

Note: All measurements are in inches.

2. Measure the Executee’s Chin Height from the floor and
weigh him.

3. Measure the Scaffold Crossbeam Height from the floor of
the scaffold.

4. Subtract the Chin Height from the Scaffold Crossbeam Height and add the Drop Distance from the Drop Distance Table to obtain the Rope Length.

5. Mark the Rope at the rope length and cut it seven (7) feet longer. If fastener for rope is not at crossbeam but at another location, add this distance to the crossbeam height plus any additional amount needed for fastening.

6. Boil the Rope for one (1) hour and stretch the rope while drying to eliminate all spring, stiffness or tendency to coil. Dry thoroughly.

7. Either Tie Conventional Hangman’s Knot as per included instructions or utilize a Mechanical Hangman’s Knot and fasten with U-clamp. Lubricate Hangman’s Knot with
proper lubricant.

8. Install the Rope with the Hangman’s Noose to the scaffold crossbeam and cut off remaining rope. The rope should be stretched tight prior to cutting and only the Rope Length should hang below the scaffold crossbeam.

9. Oil, Check and Verify that all mechanical parts of the Gallows (i.e. the hinges on the trap door and the release mechanism) are functioning properly.

10. Fill Two (2) Sandbags with the equivalent weight of the executee (half in each bag) and fasten the bags together at the tops. Open the Noose and slip it over one of the bags and tighten it at the point where the bags are fastened together. You are now ready to test the gallows.

11, Close the Trap Door and Reset the trip mechanism. Stand on the door to make sure it is secure. Place the sandbags on the door and loop the rope in such a fashion as to prevent any crimping or catching. Test the gallows repeatedly (at least twelve [12] times) to insure proper mechanical operation of the trap door and that the rope is secure and will not break.

You are now prepared for the execution.

EXECUTION PROCEDURE

Note: The following procedure should be completed by a Certified Hanging Technician.

1. Install the Noose Sleeve and, if using a Mechanical Hangman’s Knot, install the cover for the Knot.

2. Install the Body Restraint around the Executee’s waist and tightly bind his wrists to the restraint. (His arms may be restrained either in the front or the back.) If necessary, utilize the Collapse Frame.

3. Bring the Executee to the Execution Location and up the stairs to the scaffold. Remove the Collapse Frame, if utilized.

4. Place the Executee on the Trap Door and conduct the legal formalities.

5. Bind the Executee’s Legs with the Leg Restraint. Place the Hood over the Executee’s head, if used. Place the Hangman’s Noose over the Executee’s head and tighten snugly around his neck. Place the Hangman’s Knot directly behind the Executee’s left ear.

6. All Hanging Technicians shall leave the scaffold and the Executioner, on order from the Warden, shall release the trap door.

7. The Trap Door Shall Open and the Executee Shall Drop. On order from the Warden some eight minutes after the release mechanism was thrown, the attending doctor shall examine the Executee for heart death.

8. After the Pronouncement of Death, the Hanging Technicians shall, while supporting the Executee, loosen and remove the Noose and Hood and set the Executee on the floor. Thereupon, the Hanging Technicians shall remove the Leg and Body Restraints. Executee shall be placed in a body bag for removal.

The following Special Protocol applies:

APPENDIX

DROP DISTANCE TABLE

Weight in Drop Weight in Drop Pounds Distance Pounds Distance

120 or less……..8′ 1″ 170…………….6′ 0″
125…………….7’10” 175…………….5’11”
130…………….7′ 7″ 180…………….5′ 9″
135…………….7′ 4″ 185…………….5′ 7″
140…………….7′ 1″ 190…………….5′ 6″
145…………….6′ 9″ 195…………….5′ 5″
150…………….6′ 7″ 200…………….5′ 4″
155…………….6′ 6″ 205…………….5′ 2″
160…………….6′ 4″ 210…………….5′ 1″
165…………….6′ 2″ 220 and over…….5′ 0″

DIAZEPAM DOSAGE TABLE (Valium)

Note: To be used only in Jurisdictions where legal.

Diazepam Tablets USP, 10 mg (flat, round, white, scored tablets coded WC 143) supplied in bottles of 100 # N0047-0143-24. (Warner Chilcott)

Diazepam has a central nervous system depressant effect and has no short term side effects which would preclude its use as an execution anxiety and stress suppressant. Warning: will produce ataxia (appearance of being drunk) at high dosages and can cause death. Do not overdose or exceed the dosages in the table. If possible, administration should be by physician.

Weight Dosage in Pounds milligram

to 160 15 mg
to 180 20 mg
to 200 25 mg
to 220 and above 30 mg

PROCEDURE FOR TYING HANGMAN’S KNOT

Length of loops: make loop as shown from Standing Part to Running End. A to B should be approximately eighteen (18) inches, and from C to Running End should be approximately thirty-five (35) inches. Wrap running end for six (6) turns. No extra rope should remain.

Tighten wrap (loops) by pulling Running End. Lock loops and form Knot by pulling down at point D and up on Running End. Slide Knot up or down on Standing Part to adjust size of Noose.

NOTE FROM AUTHOR

Hanging is an option in only three states. If properly done it is a humane procedure. The executee is dropped a proper distance as determined by his weight. This distance is
obtained from a drop distance table which is entered utilizing his weight as an argument. The drop and subsequent stop (an acceleration of something approaching some 1600 foot pounds) results in the breaking of several bones in the spinal column which causes nerve damage and unconsciousness. After one brief instant of pain, the executee goes into medical shock and strangles.

If the executee is dropped too short a distance, he will slowly strangle while conscious. If he is dropped to far a distance, this may result in decapitation. I recently wrote the Manual for the State of Delaware, Execution By Hanging, which has been approved by the court. This protocol will most likely be used in any future hanging in the United States. In the past, few hangings were properly conducted, and it is for this reason that the procedure is not generally considered to be humane.

*   *   *

This hanging manual was the official Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Delaware State Corrections until they abolished all forms of capital punishment in 2016. A fellow by the name of Fred A. Leuchter wrote it and seems to have a good grip on operating a competent gallows. But, I thought I’d check him out and see what his expertise really is. Here’s what Wikepedia says about Fred Leuchter:

“Fred Arthur Leuchter Jr. (born February 7, 1943) is an American manufacturer of execution equipment and Holocaust denier who is best known as the author of the Leuchter report, a pseudoscientific document[2] that alleges there were no gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Prior to this, he had been contracted by the authorities of several states in the U.S. to improve the design of instruments for capital punishment.

Leuchter was charged in Massachusetts with having misrepresented himself to penitentiaries as an engineer, despite having no relevant qualifications; Leuchter plea bargained with state prosecutors, and received two years probation. He has also been accused of running a “death row shakedown”, in which Leuchter threatened to testify for the defense in capital cases if he was not given contracts for his services by that state.[1][3][4]

Leuchter became internationally known for his testimony in defense of Holocaust denier Ernst Zündel in 1988. His study for Zündel’s trial has been referred to as the Leuchter Report[5] since it was published by Zündel with that title.

Leuchter’s work is often presented by Holocaust deniers as scientifically-based evidence for Holocaust denial, despite his research methods and findings having been widely discredited on both scientific and historical grounds. Leuchter, and his report, are the subject of Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr., a 1999 feature-length documentary film by Errol Morris.”